Guide to Information Privacy

A how-to guide on keeping your information private while using the internet.

Anonymous asked: Is it harder for the Snow Leopard OS to be hacked rather than the Windows OS? Is there anything that I can install on my Mac to protect my information?

Its not that the Snow Leopard OS (a common Mac operating system) is any harder to be hacked, attacks just do not happen as often because generally more people use the Windows operating system. However, with Apple computers becoming more popular it is likely that there will be a shift and Mac operating systems will also start being attacked. Like we mentioned in an early post, regardless of what operating system you are using, when your computer tells you it is time to update it, listen to it! It is true that Mac operating systems tend to hav their virus protection built in, but this only works if you update it.

Want to see EVERYTHING you have ever posted on Facebook? Including things you thought you ‘deleted’? More proof that nothing on Facebook is every deleted!

OUR BROCHURE

If you want more information please check out our brochure! Email llw38@georgetown.edu for a copy!

Anonymous asked: What does online appropriation mean?

Appropriation is simply the use of another person’s personality or identity for their own personal goals, without asking permission. This is a significant problem online identities and credentials are frequently stolen. To combat this problem, be sure that your passwords are highly kept secret and that they are different for every login site. Also passwords that are tricky, lengthy, complex, and include characters and numbers are much more secure than having your name as your password for everything. 

Ex: 5ktksmile2 is a better password than amy92

Anonymous asked: How can I tell if an online shopping website is legitimate and safe for my debit or credit card?

Well to help ensure legitimacy we recommend using a service like PayPal. Also, always make sure you are actually on RueLaLa.com (for more information check out our DNS post below!) Also, never use a public wireless network to do your online shopping or banking. Hackers can access your information if they are on the same wireless network so we recommend doing all of your online shopping at home and with an Ethernet cord to be extra safe!

Anonymous asked: What are some of the harms that can occur with my online information?

Potential harms include the possibility of disclosure issues, impacting your ability to receive jobs, scholarship, admission, or even maintain secrecy in your personal issues such as sexual orientation. This creates a breech of confidence and issues of exposure, allowing for physical and emotional harms. Additionally, your online information can be misconstrued, allowing others to cast judgment upon you based off of inaccurate data. This can cause significant harm, especially if others have malicious intent against you. This also allows for the opportunity for a mass collection of data about you, something that becomes harmful if you have enemies. You can be blackmailed by your information, creating the possibility for your private information to be released to the public. Appropriation can occur, if your online identity is used to pursue someone else’s personal goals. Distortion becomes frequent as your information can easily be manipulated in a way that does not accurately represent you. As a result, someone can falsely perceive you differently than you are based on this information. Online intrusion can also make you uncomfortable online, disrupting your personal affairs. Interference can bring unwanted encouragement over your individual personal decisions, such as whether or not to have an abortion. Your online credentials can easily be stolen, allowing for your finances and credibility to be threatened. These are just a few of the possible harms that can occur if you are not careful online!

Anonymous asked: How do I change my privacy settings on Facebook? What do I click? Help me!

Step One:  Go to Account at the top right of your Facebook settings and choose the Privacy Settings button

Step Two: We recommend selecting Custom Privacy Settings. This way you will have more control over what you chose to share to whom. You will find this button on the left side of the tool bar. Then click Customize Settings at the bottom left corner of this.

Step Three: Decide how much you want to share with different people. There are six different options to choose from. Start with The Things I Share and go through every option and change your settings. The best option for optimal privacy is choosing Custom. Friends only is also good but try to avoid Everyone at all cost because this provides no privacy. You may choose to have different privacy settings for different things. For example, you may not care who sees your birthday so you can set this to Friends only but you may care that only certain people can see your posts. Change your privacy settings accordingly.

1.     Everyone – this means that everyone on Facebook can see everything that you post

2.     Friends of Friends and Networks – this means that people you are friends with, the people they are friends with and other people who share your same network can see what you post. Networks are can be either what school you go/went to or what town/city you live in. They are just another way of grouping people.

3.     Friends and Networks – this means that only your friends and other people who share your same network can see what you post

4.     Friends of Friends – this means that your friends and their friends can see what you post

5.     Friends Only – this means that only people you are friends with can see what you post

6.     Custom – this allows you to chose specifically who can see what you post

Step Four: Move onto Things others share and Contact information. Change your privacy settings based on how much you want to share. We recommend sharing your contact information with only yourself or friends only.

Step Five: You can then select Preview My Profile at the top right corner. This will allow you to see what certain people can see on your profile.

For more information with PICTURE email us (llw38@georgetown.edu) for a brochure! 

What does it mean when a window pops up on my computer saying, “Another devise on the network is using your computer’s IP address” ? Does this mean I am being hacked? If you receive a pop up on your computer that looks like this, do not panic! You most likely are not being hacked. This pop up simply means that another computer is using the same internet network as you, something that is common on college campuses and other areas of shared internet networks.

What does it mean when a window pops up on my computer saying, “Another devise on the network is using your computer’s IP address” ? Does this mean I am being hacked?

If you receive a pop up on your computer that looks like this, do not panic! You most likely are not being hacked. This pop up simply means that another computer is using the same internet network as you, something that is common on college campuses and other areas of shared internet networks.

Anonymous asked: What does privacy even mean?

We like to think of the working definition of privacy as the ability to control who accesses our information, how our personal information is used once accessed, and the ability to hold them accountable for their misuse.

Anonymous asked: Should I be installing those software security updates that pop up on my computer? Is it even worth it to restart my computer to install these?

YES! You need to actually install this updated software because in it contains patched vulnerabilities to help protect you. By not installing it, you are essentially wearing a big sign around your neck saying, “attack me!!”, making you more prone to future attacks and viruses. Hackers target these people whose programs are not updated and patched so taking the extra time to restart your computer to install these updates is definitely worth it in the long run!